PERTH, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 18: Marcus Harris of Victoria bats during day one of the Sheffield Shield match between Western Australia and Victoria at the WACA on October 18, 2019 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Will Russell/Getty Images)

Marcus Harris and Michael Neser were the standouts on an intriguing day of Sheffield Shield cricket to open a pair of fixtures as South Australia take on Victoria, and Queensland face Tasmania.

On a day when Tim Paine made his return to Shield cricket after a long absence from the sport, but struggled in making only six on a difficult Allan Border Oval wicket, it was Harris and Neser who stole the show.

On that same Allan Border Oval wicket, where Tasmania's top run-scorers from last summer in Tim Ward and Caleb Jewell both failed at the top of the order in a dent to their own aspirations of higher honours, Neser was the chief destroyer.

The Australian quick, who seems to be well down the pecking order behind Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, but also Scott Boland and Jhye Richardson at the very least, snared the wicket of Jewell at the top of the order before taking another two later in the innings to finish with 3 for 42.

The ever consistent and economical Neser ended with 4 maidens from 14.2 overs and was consistent in his line and length throughout the Tasmanian innings, which only lasted 60 overs.

Mark Steketee was the pick of the bowlers though, winding up with 4 for 43 from 17 overs as he removed Tim Ward, Ben McDermott, Beau Webster and new Tasmanian captain Jordan Silk.

Silk has taken over the lead role in all three formats for the Tigers this summer, and while he recently spoke out about his own aspirations to play for the country, managed just 16 batting at number 5 in the innings yesterday.

Only runs from the tail would get Tasmania to 147, a score that is already proving to be well below par, with the Queensland side going to stumps at 1 for 70.

Another Australian hopeful in Joe Burns managed to go to stumps with 35 not out on the board, while Marnus Labuschagne was also not out at the other end. Usman Khawaja will bat at four.

Burns will be after big runs in his first innings against a red ball this summer, and while the Australian opening combination of Khawaja and David Warner looks settled, the next cab off the rank in case of injury or form over a busy period (Australia play 14 Tests in the a 7-month window) is less than settled.

Alongside Burns and the two Tasmanian openers, as well as Henry Hunt, who will get his opportunity at some point on Friday for South Australia, Marcus Harris and Will Pucovski could also put their hands up.

Pucovski, who is returning from yet another concussion, hurt his chances with a duck, but it was Harris who stole the show, scoring 85 from 170 balls as Victoria went to stumps at 9 for 264.

Harris was joined by Will Sutherland, with the all-rounder cracking his first century in first class cricket. Harris, however, scored 85 of the first 137 runs in the innings before departing.

Harris and Burns are the two players with experience should the need arise for a replacement opening batsman, and there is little doubt that the duo will be more or less in a bat-off all summer, unless one of Jewell, Ward, Hunt or Pucovski score runs like they are going out of fashion.

Hunt will get his chance to bat once South Australia manage to take the last wicket, with Scott Boland and Jon Holland at the crease overnight.

Harry Conway, in his South Australian debut, could only manage a single wicket on Day 1, as Jordan Buckingham and David Grant picked up three a piece.